7608 85th PL NE

ABSTRACT

A deodorant package is provided, including a screw rotatably coupled to one end of a tubular body and extending along a longitudinal axis so that rotation of the screw drives a piston axially within the body. The package includes a cap having a first end configured to engage an open end of the body. The opposite end of the cap is flared with a planar end face lying perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body. The flare provides stable face on which to stand the package. The end of the package opposite the cap may be rounded or otherwise shaped to further encourage a user to rest the package with the capped end downward. A ridge is formed around the inner surface of the body, near the end, to help prevent a stick of semisolid deodorant from falling into the cap while the package is standing thereon.

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 62/844,428, filed May 7, 2019, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to packaging for personaldeodorant, and more particularly, to packaging in which deodorant isdispensed by actuation of a piston internal to the package.

Description of the Related Art

Many people regularly apply deodorant or antiperspirant (hereafter,deodorant) to control odor in the under-arm region. Current, many, ifnot most deodorants are packaged in stick form, in tubular containersthat enable a user to push a stick of deodorant toward an open end asthe material is consumed. Most such containers are provided with a screwmechanism coupled to a piston positioned behind the stick of deodorant.The user rotates the screw at one end of the container, which advancesthe piston, pushing the stick toward the opposite end of the container.Another common packaging type is in gel form, in which the product is inthe form of a relatively stiff gel, which is also dispensed via a screwmechanism.

Typically, in these types of packaging, the knob is positioned at abottom end of a hollow tubular container. The knob is affixed to athreaded spindle that extends most of the length of the container. Apiston positioned within the container engages the spindle such thatrotation of the spindle causes the piston to travel axially within thecontainer, the piston being constrained against simultaneous rotation bya non-circular (e.g., oval) cross-section or another feature. The stickof deodorant is positioned within the container on a side of the pistonopposite the knob. As shipped from the manufacturer, the piston ispositioned close to the bottom of the container, and the stick is incontact with the piston at one end, and extends, at the other end, ashort distance beyond the top of the container. In use, the user gripsthe container and applies deodorant from the stick directly to theuser's underarm region, without directly handling the stick. As thestick is consumed, the user rotates the knob, which, by action of thethreaded spindle, moves the piston, and consequently the stick ofdeodorant, toward the top of the container, continually providing asmall amount of the stick extending from the container. The container istypically provided with a protective cap that fits over the top end ofthe container and that is configured to maintain some headroom above thetop of the container, to permit a portion of the stick to extend beyondthe container, inside the cap.

The inventor has recognized that, with conventional packaging, as thestick of deodorant is consumed, and as the user moves the piston closerto the top of the container, the container becomes progressivelytop-heavy, and therefore, increasingly prone to tipping. In theinventor's experience, as items within a bathroom cabinet are handledand jostled during normal daily preparation, it is not uncommon for adeodorant package to fall from a cabinet shelf, particularly once halfor more of the contents of the deodorant package have been used. In thiscondition, the remaining portion of the deodorant, which may constitutea large fraction of the total weight of the package, is at the top ofthe package while the space below is empty. This can result in thepackage falling to the floor, where it can come to rest in adifficult-to access location, creating an inconvenience for the user.Moreover, to retrieve the package, the user may be obliged to place hisor her hands on the bathroom floor and reach behind a toilet, orotherwise come into contact with surfaces that are not perfectly clean.The user's hands may thus become contaminated, as well as the deodorantpackage itself and if the user is not scrupulous in removing thecontamination, unnecessary health risks can be created. Furthermore, notonly the deodorant package itself but adjoining items may becomedislodged and fall from the cabinet, such as medications, toothbrushes,and other supplies, for example.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment, a deodorant package is provided, whichcomprises a hollow body having a knob end and an open end, with sides ofthe body being parallel for a majority of a length of the body. An areaof the knob end of the body is less than an area of a transverse sectionnear a midpoint of the body. A screw is rotatably coupled to the body atthe knob end and includes a knob and a threaded spindle. The knobextends from the body at the knob end and the spindle extendslongitudinally within the body from the knob end toward the open end.The package also includes a cap having a first end configured to engagethe open end of the body, a flat end face on a second end opposite thefirst end, and a flare at the second end of the cap.

According to an embodiment, the cap is flared such that the flat endface has an area that is greater than the area of the transverse sectionof the package near the midpoint of the body.

According to an embodiment, the knob end of the package has a shape, inprofile, that cooperates with a shape of the flare of the cap, such thatthe deodorant package can nest with another similarly shaped deodorantpackage with sides of the deodorant package and the similarly shapeddeodorant package in face-to-face contact.

According to an embodiment, the deodorant package includes a ridgeextending around at least a portion of an inner surface of the body ator near the open end.

According to an embodiment, the knob end of the body is rounded.

According to an embodiment, the package includes a label that isoriented on the package such that it is right-reading when the packageis oriented with the open end downward.

According to an embodiment, the flare of the cap has a curved shape thattransitions from a vertical sidewall of the cap to a transverse plane.

According to an embodiment, the flare of the cap is flange-shaped, withopposite faces defining respective parallel planes.

According to an embodiment, the cap end includes a plurality of feetextending outward from sidewalls of the cap and separated by a pluralityof spaces extending inward from the vertical sidewalls, the feet andspaces being configured to cooperate with feet and spaces of a cap of asecond package so as to permit a sidewall of the cap to makeface-to-face contact with a sidewall of the cap of the second package.

According to an embodiment, A deodorant package is provided, including atubular body having a first end and a second end, a screw rotatablycoupled to the body at the first end with a knob of the screw positionedproximate the first end and a spindle of the screw extending along alongitudinal axis of the body toward the second end, and a pistonpositioned within the body and engaging the spindle of the screw suchthat rotation of the screw drives the piston axially within the body.The package includes a cap having a first end configured to engage thesecond end of the body, a second end having a planar end face lyingperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body, and a flairproximate the end face such that the end face has a dimension that isgreater than a corresponding transverse dimension of the first end ofthe cap.

According to an embodiment, a surface area of the end face of the cap isgreater than a transverse sectional area of the first end of the cap.

According to an embodiment, a ridge extends around an inner surface ofthe body proximate the second end of the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a deodorant package, according to anembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the deodorant package of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a deodorant body cap, according toanother embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a deodorant body cap according to afurther embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the deodorantbody cap of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view showing first and second caps similar tothe deodorant body cap of Figured 4 and 5, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and show oneembodiment. Other embodiments may be used and/or changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. The termdeodorant is used herein to refer to deodorant, anti-perspirant, andsimilar personal hygiene products.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a deodorant package 100, according to an embodimentof the present invention, with some internal features shown in hiddenlines. Package 100 includes a hollow body 102 and a cap 104. Sides ofthe body extend parallel to each other along most of the length of thebody. The body includes a spindle 106 extending axially within the body100, and a knob 108 affixed to the spindle, so that they form a speciesof screw. The knob 108 and spindle 106 are rotatably coupled to the body102. A piston 110 is threadedly engaged with the spindle 106, enablingaxial movement of the piston within the body by rotation of the knob108. An inwardly extending annular ridge, band, or similar constriction113 at or proximate a first end 112 of the body forms an interferencefit with the end of the semi-solid deodorant stick, as indicated at 114,to retain the stick against sliding/falling out of the lower end of thebody, for example, when ambient temperatures are elevated and thematerial of the stick softened. The cap 104 is configured to slide overand engage the first end 112 of the body 102 in a slight interferencefit or snap fit. The cap 104 includes an interior cavity 111 that (withthe cap positioned on the body 102) extends beyond the first end 112 ofthe body, providing headspace for a deodorant stick extending slightlyfrom the first end of the body.

In embodiments configured for use with gel-type deodorants, the annularridge 113 is omitted. Instead, according to an embodiment, an end faceis provided at the first end 112 of the body 102, which includes anumber of perforations. Advancement of the piston 110 forces the gelthrough the perforations and onto the outer surface of the end face.Such arrangements are known in the art.

As shown in the drawings, the package 100 is oriented as it is normallystored while not in use, with the cap 104 positioned downward, and theknob 108 at the top of the package. When oriented as shown in thedrawings, the center of gravity of the package 100 drops over time, asthe deodorant is consumed, so that the package actually becomes morestable, and less prone to tipping. This is in contrast to deodorantpackages of the known art, which are designed and typically displayedwith an opposite orientation, with the cap at the top, and which becomeless stable as the deodorant is consumed and the center of gravity movesupward.

In the embodiment shown, an end face 116 at a second end 118 of the body102 has a smaller area—even including the knob 108—than the area of atransverse section of the body closer to the first end 112. At theopposite end of the package 100, the cap 104 includes flares 120 at thecap end 122, which further improves stability of the package 100 whilestanding on the cap end. Where, as in the illustrated embodiment, thedeodorant stick is generally oval or rectangular in horizontalcross-section and the deodorant package is consequentially flat, thepackage is much less stable toward its front and back as compared toside-to-side. Therefore, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2,the stabilizing features such as flares 120 are provided on the frontand back of the cap 104 only but are omitted from the sides, so as toprovide effective stabilization while permitting efficient utilizationof retail shelf space. However, in some embodiments the flares extend onmore sides or all the way around the body. For example, in embodimentsin which the package is cylindrical, or has a low aspect ratio intransverse section, it may be advantageous to provide flares on allsides of the package.

Moreover, in some embodiments, the flares may have more of a simpleflange, as described below with reference to FIG. 3, for example, orhave some other contour rather that the smoothly flared profile that isshown, so long as stabilizing contact areas are provided at the bottom.In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, a surface area of the cap end 122 isgreater than the area of a transverse section near a midpoint of thebody 104 so as to provide the stabilizing contact areas referred toabove, in the form of a broadened base.

The second end 118 of the body 102 is preferably shaped so as todiscourage a user from resting the package 100 on the second end. as inthe case of the embodiment shown, in which the second end is roundedover. The flares 120 at the cap end 122 and the rounded-over second end118 together serve to encourage a user to stand the package 100 on thefirst, cap end 112 and discourage the user from resting the package onthe second end 118. A label 124 is also provided, oriented as shown inFIG. 1 to further encourage use in the orientation shown. Additionally,according to an embodiment, the second end 118 is shaped to cooperatewith the flares 120 at the cap end 122, so that two of the packages 100,will nest together with one inverted. This enables multiple packages 100to fit together in an up-down-up-down arrangement in shipping cartons,for efficient packing. However, it is preferred that the curved/taperedportion of second end 118 not extend greatly below the level of thelower end of knob 108 in order to permit the body to remainstraight-walled over the greatest part of its length and therefore allowthe piston to work smoothly therein. While not in use, a user stands thepackage 100 on its cap end 122. In use, the user removes the cap 104and, if necessary, advances the deodorant stick from the first end 112of the body 102 by rotating the knob 108, and then applies the deodorantaccording to the manufacturer's directions, as provided, for example, onthe label 124. The user then replaces the cap 104 and again stands thepackage 100 on the cap end for storage. The downward movement of thecenter of gravity with each usage steadily increases the stability ofthe package over its useful life. The embodiments shown in the drawingsare provided as examples. According to another embodiment, the cap isnot flared, but is simply straight, with a flat end. According toadditional embodiments, the knob end is flat or differently shaped thanshown.

FIGS. 3-6 are provided to show additional examples of flare shapes andtypes, according to various embodiments, and are configured, in theseexamples, to be used with deodorant package bodies such as, for example,the body 102 of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a cap130, according to an embodiment. The cap 130 includes a flare 132 thatis shaped as a simple flange. Other elements of the cap 130 are asdescribed above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a cap 140, according to anembodiment, and FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the cap 140 of FIG. 4.The cap 140 has a cap end 122, vertical sidewalls 142, and a flare 144with a side profile that is similar to that of the flare 120 of the cap104 of FIGS. 1 and 2. However, the flare 144 comprises a plurality offeet 146 separated by spaces 148. Each of the feet 146 extends outwardfrom the sidewall 142, while each of the spaces extends inward. The feet146 and spaces 148 are arranged so that when two caps 140 are positionedface-to-face, each of the feet 146 of the caps 140 is opposite a space148 of the other cap 140. The spaces 148 are shaped to cooperate withfeet 146 of another cap 140 to permit multiple packages to be stackedwith their vertical faces 142 in face-to-face contact.

Because the cap end 122 of the cap 140 includes the spaces 148, thetotal surface area of the cap end may be less than the area of atransverse section of the body 104—or of the cap 140 taken above theflare 144. However, because the feet 146 extend outwardly from thevertical sidewalls 142, a transverse dimension of the cap end 122 isgreater than a corresponding transverse dimension of the cap 140 abovethe flare 144, such as between the vertical sidewalls 142. Thetransverse dimensions of a body that is appropriately sized and shapedto receive the cap 140 will be approximately equal to the correspondingtransverse dimension of the cap 140 above the flare 144, so thedimensions of the cap end 122 will also be greater than those of thebody, providing stabilizing contact areas even with diminished surfacearea. FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view showing first and second caps 140 a,140 b, similar to the cap 140 of FIGS. 4 and 5, positioned withrespective vertical faces 142 a, 142 b in contact with each other. Eachof the feet 146 a on one side of the first cap 142 a is received into acorresponding one of the spaces 148 b of the cap 140 b, and vice-versa.In this way, any number of deodorant packages that include caps 140 canbe stacked compactly for shipping, storage, or space-efficient display.

As used in the claims, the term flare refers to a feature of a cap thatextends to an end of the cap of a deodorant package such that the capend has at least one dimension that is greater than a correspondingdimension of a transverse section of the cap at a point where the cap isconfigured to engage a body of the package.

In the drawings, some elements are designated with a reference numberfollowed by a letter, e.g., “148 a, 148 b.” In such cases, the letterdesignation is used where it may be useful in the correspondingdescription to refer to or differentiate between specific ones of anumber of otherwise similar or identical elements. Where the descriptionomits the letter from a reference, and refers to such elements by numberonly, this can be understood as a general reference to the elementsidentified by that reference number, unless additional distinguishinglanguage is used.

Very high degrees of precision are not generally essential in everyaspect of the manufacturing processes of products such as personaldeodorant packaging. Accordingly, where relationships between elementsare described, using terms such as perpendicular, parallel, equal, etc.,it will be understood that wide tolerances or variations may beperfectly acceptable in many instances, and that such terms are not tobe interpreted as requiring a degree of precision that is inconsistentwith standards that would be acceptable to a person having ordinaryskill in the art under similar circumstances.

The abstract of the present disclosure is provided as a brief outline ofsome of the principles of the invention according to one embodiment, butis not intended as a complete or definitive description of any singleembodiment thereof, nor should it be relied upon to define terms used inthe specification or claims. The abstract does not limit the scope ofthe claims. These and other changes can be made to the embodiments inlight of the above-detailed description. In general, in the followingclaims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims tothe specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims,but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along withthe full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.

1. A deodorant package, comprising: a hollow body having a knob end andan open end with sides of the body being parallel for a majority of alength of the body, an area of the knob end of the body being less thanan area of a transverse section near a midpoint of the body; a screw,including a knob and a threaded spindle, rotatably coupled to the bodywith the knob extending from the body at the knob end and the spindleextending longitudinally within the body from the knob end toward theopen end; and a cap having a first end configured to engage the open endof the body, a flat end face on a second end opposite the first end, anda flare at the second end of the cap.
 2. The deodorant package of claim1, wherein the cap is flared such that the flat end face has an areathat is greater than the area of the transverse section of the packagenear the midpoint of the body.
 3. The deodorant package of claim 1,wherein the knob end of the package has a shape, in profile, thatcooperates with a shape of the flare, such that the deodorant packagecan nest with another similarly shaped deodorant package with sides ofthe deodorant package and the similarly shaped deodorant package inface-to-face contact.
 4. The deodorant package of claim 1, comprising aridge extending around at least a portion of an inner surface of thebody proximate the open end.
 5. The deodorant package of claim 1,wherein the knob end of the body has a rounded end.
 6. The deodorantpackage of claim 1, comprising a label that is oriented on the body soas to be right-reading when the body is oriented with the open enddownward.
 7. The deodorant package of claim 1 wherein the flare has acurved shape that transitions from a vertical sidewall of the cap to atransverse plane.
 8. The deodorant package of claim 1, wherein the flareis flange-shaped, with opposite faces defining respective parallelplanes.
 9. The deodorant package of claim 1, wherein the cap endincludes a plurality of feet extending outward from sidewalls of the capand separated by a plurality of spaces extending inward from thesidewalls, the feet and spaces being configured to cooperate with feetand spaces of a cap of a second package so as to permit a sidewall ofthe cap to make face-to-face contact with a sidewall of the cap of thesecond package.
 10. A deodorant package, comprising: a tubular bodyhaving a first end and a second end; a screw rotatably coupled to thebody at the first end with a knob of the screw positioned proximate thefirst end and a spindle of the screw extending along a longitudinal axisof the body toward the second end; a piston positioned within the bodyand engaging the spindle of the screw such that rotation of the screwdrives the piston axially within the body; a cap having: a first endconfigured to engage the second end of the body, a second end having aplanar end face lying perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of thebody; and a flair proximate the end face such that the end face has adimension that is greater than a corresponding transverse dimension ofthe first end of the cap.
 11. The deodorant package of claim 9, whereina surface area of the end face of the cap is greater than a transversesectional area of the first end of the cap.
 12. The deodorant package ofclaim 9, comprising a ridge extending around an inner surface of thebody proximate the second end of the body.